Chapter Forty Two

Jasper

It was snowing again as our first guests arrived to be met at the door by a bouncing and very excited Grace, "Uncle Peter, Auntie Charlotte, Merry Christmas."

Peter picked her up and swung her in the air.

"Do you like our snowman?"

He looked at it appraisingly,

"He's a tiddler, tomorrow we'll build a bigger one"

Grace went to kiss Charlotte on her damaged face and took her hand dragging her in to the lounge where Bella sat mending Graces coat that she'd torn on a nail getting some of the twigs, the broom looking very workmanlike when it was finished, although the pink ribbon Grace had insisted on tying it with did make it look a little less than authentic.

I waited for her to tell them our news but she surprised us by not saying anything, she had something lined up we were sure. Soon after them came Esme and Emmett and Grace welcomed them just as warmly

as she had Peter and Char. Emmett seemed I'll at ease to begin with but once he realised he was welcome he loosened up and he and Peter decided that as it was still snowing they might as well try tobogganing using a battered sheet of metal they found in the barn. Grace begged to be allowed to go too so I went along to see she was OK, neither of them was used to having such a delicate human around. Esme, Char, and Bella stayed behind at the house promising hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows for Graces supper.

The tobogganing was a huge success with Grace riding with each of us in turn until I saw she was shivering with the cold,

"Home now. It's time for supper and bed or Santa wont come."

She looked at me then turned to Peter,

"I think Santa is a myth".

"Really? What about vampires, are they a myth?"

She looked at him thinking about this,

"No...well maybe Santa does exist"

"Well you wouldn't want to upset him and not get any presents now would you?"

She shook her head at this and picked up Shadow who was still on the toboggan from his last trip down hill. When we got back I could smell the hot chocolate among the scents of cinnamon and oranges. Esme was kneeling by the fire with a long twig toasting the marshmallows and Grace rushed over to try one,

"Be careful, the middle will be hot and runny."

Grace sat beside Bella and they eat and drank while Grace told her all about the races we'd had.

"What time is it mummy?"

Bella looked at the clock,

"It's very late. I think you need to get ready for bed now."

"Can Charlotte read me a story?"

Char smiled at her

"Of course sweetheart. You go get ready for bed and shout when you're ready."

Still Grace hadn't said anything and I wondered if she had forgotten in her excitement but I wouldn't spoil it for her so we kept quiet. Once Char came back down we sat talking while Bella who was looking tired curled up on the sofa with her head on my lap and fell asleep. Our voices dropped and we talked about Christmases we remembered and old traditions long since gone. Emmett helped me get Graces presents down and stack them by the fire in black sacks for her while Peter used the burned end of the toasting stick to draw reindeer tracks across the room from the door and boot prints for Santa. We drew the line at the idea of reindeer poo although Grace would probably have loved it!

I left our guests to their own devices carrying Bella up to our room and settling her in bed. She opened her eyes sleepily and smiled at me.

"Don't leave me"

"I wont"

I got in beside her and she curled around me like a cat, her slightly rounded belly pressed against my arm and I felt a small movement, was this my new baby saying hello? It stirred a few times and I felt the tiniest nudges, each one filling me with wonder. This time I would be here to see my baby grow inside the woman I loved and see its entrance to this world if she could only hold on to it long enough but I wasn't blind to the danger that she could lose it at any time. We had no idea how much difference Rosalie's drugs had made to Bella's ability to carry Grace to full term. I was prepared but inside the man in me screamed at the thought of losing a life I had helped to create.

The next morning we were disturbed about six by Graces excited screams as she found Santa had been. Bella wrapped her dressing gown around her and I steadied her as we went downstairs. I always worried about her and stairs because her record on them wasn't great. She could trip over on level ground after all! We sat waiting for Grace to open her presents but once we were all there she stood up and addressed us all.

"Mummy and daddy have an extra special present for us all this year. I'm going to have a brother or sister."

The gasps were audible, Esme was so excited her eyes shone while Char looked at Bella and grinned,

"So the wise woman's help will be needed again?"

Bella nodded to her, the two of them had a special bond forged when Char helped her give birth to Grace. Peter threw his hands up in the air,

"More Munchkins, Oh no"

Grace jumped on him,

"I am not a Munchkin."

"Yes you are if I say so"

The play fight went on as we continued to watch. Emmett came to Bella's side.

"Congrats little Sis. Do you think you'll be OK?"

"I hope so Em, we'll just have to wait and see. Grace was a miracle, perhaps we'll get another."

After this we sat watching as Grace, Shadow still by her side, opened her many presents, games, dressing up clothes, a kitchen with lights and sounds, a baby doll with a crib, all kinds of stuff. Then came our turn, the others were knocked out by Grace's choice of presents, Esme especially as the brooch was exactly like the one her mother had given her for her twenty-first birthday and she had lost when she became a vampire. Somehow Grace had known. Bella loved her big fluffy slippers and perfume Grace had chosen for her. We had decided not to buy for each other, after all we had all we wanted or needed, each other.

It wasn't until I was clearing up the thick drift of ripped wrapping paper that Peter looked at Grace,

"What about daddy? Doesn't he get a present?"

She smiled at Bella who nodded then came and took my hand.

"You need to stand up daddy and wear this"

It was a blindfold which Peter held her up to tie around my face. Then she took my hand

"Follow me"

I followed her out of the house and across to the barn quite mystified until I smelled horse.

"You can take it off now daddy".

I did so to see the most beautiful creature in one of the stalls, he was neglected but had the makings of a fabulous beast.

"Fuck me, its Major!"

I glared at Peter who looked at Grace and put a hand to his mouth,

"Whoops, sorry Grace"

She giggled then looked at me,

"Do you like him daddy? The man who owned him was going to sell him as wolf bait."

As I put my hand out to the horse who moved nervously but didn't back away Grace told us the story.

"What are you going to call him daddy?"

Peter had been right, he was very much like my old stallion Major,

"Major I think"

Peter nodded his agreement,

"It's almost as if the old guy has come back"

He was right and as I smoothed his neck the horse moved closer and put his nose in my jacket pocket which made Grace giggle but gave me goosebumps. It was exactly what Major had done to greet me, my old friend reincarnated. I couldn't help my smile and Grace jumped up and down with pleasure then introduced Major to her horse Shadow. Major whinnied at him and that pleased her even more. she ran inside to tell Bella while Peter, Em, and I stayed in the barn.

"He needs a fair bit of grooming but it looks like he's been re-shod. What a present, a new horse and a new baby. You think she'll carry it?"

"I don't know Peter but as long as she wants to try I'm behind her. If it comes down to a choice though its Bella all the way."

"And the Volturi?"

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair,

"You're thinking about Aro's time limit?"

He nodded stroking Majors flank,

"You know he's going to come looking and she can't change while she's pregnant. Your going to exceed his time limit."

"Then I guess we have to hope for the best and try to prepare for the worst. I don't think it's occurred to Bella so keep it quiet Peter. She doesn't need any stress now"

He nodded and looked at Emmett,

"You ready for a fight Em?"

"Hey, anyone messes with my little Sis I'll be there"

It was good to have these two with me, I just hoped it wouldn't come to a fight.